Clearway for clogged ducts



Feb. 1o, 1942. 'R F. THERRIEN 2,272,381'A GLEARWAY FOR CLOGGED DUCTS Filed June 9, 1958 Patented Feb. 10,

uNrriao -.sTArEs.. PATENT oFFl-ca `z,z1z,ss7

cnmwnr ron cnoednn nucrs Robert F. Therrien, Toledo, Ohio, assigner of one-haii' to Earl M. Myers, Toledo, Ohio Appuoouon :one 9, 193s, soi-n1 No. 212.8*51 Y 2 calms. (ci. 15io4.so)

This invention relates to flow promotion in passages having accumulated therein resistance to normal flow.

This invention has utility in waste, sewer ducts or pipes for sediment release or freeing.

Referring-to the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of an embodiment of the invention as a power clog remover for sewers:

Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-IL Fig. l, showing the power connection to the sleeve for effecting tool rotation;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the sleev portion oi the device of Fig. l, showing mounting reciprocation rotation connections thereto;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on the line IV-IV, Fig. l, showing the multiple speed transmission connection from the motor to rotate the sleeve;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the terminal tool and its mounting as located in the sewer pipe; and l Fig. 6 is a detail view of a terminal tool having radially movable arms.

Frame I provides base for motor 2 having shaft 3 carrying step pulley l, from which extends belt 5 for coacting with step pulley 6 and transmitting variable speedsfrom the motor 2 to shaft 'I having worm 8 in mesh with worm gear 9 having hub Iii with diametrical ways II' coacting with splines I2, I3, on sleeve Il. Extending rom this sleeve Il is flexible torsion transmission mounting means or snake I5, herein shown as wire helix closely wound. Terminally this helix carries coupling I6 for mounting tool iii, shown as comprising a cylindrical section having terminal concave teeth i8 effective in tool rotation in duct I9 of a sewer to attack sediment or accumulation 2l and loosen such for being readily ushed therefrom.

In eiecting variable radius control for the tool, coupling It may mount stem 2l having terminal head 22 from which extends a pair of arched yieldable blades 23 having marginal teeth 2a. Accordingly, as the speed for rotation is transmitted from the coil or flexible transmission I5, increased centrifugal action may be eifective to urge these blades 23 outward into the sediment and thereby eect clearway enlargement beyond that which is for the contracted position of this tool. rihis means that there'may be an initial low speed rotation boring through the material and subsequent high speed to enlarge such opening, or there may be initial low speedboring and, before progressing through, such followed by the higher speed rotation Afor muyl enlarging as the tool operation is p.

This sleeve i4, as carried by the frame I, is

' mounted in roller bearing zt. Bearings 20.21.111

housing llfor the worm wheel 8' are effective through this worm wheel to carry thissleeve i4 remote from the bearing 25. The frame I- has fulcrum 2! for hand leverl 30 having pivotal connection 3| with loose ring 32 between antifriction thrust collars 33, 34, respectively held by pins 3i fixed against longitudinal movement relatively to the sleeve I4. Accordingly, by grasping the hand grip 36 of this lever 30. this lever may be swung on its fulcrum 2l and through such oscillation eifect progress and retraction of the sleeve I4 relatively to the rotation-effecting drivewheel 9. Inasmuch asy the transmission is herein shown as a helical coil the winding action thereon tends to reduce its effective diameter and in relaxing therefrom tends to cause such to enlarge. This has an automatic reaction effect as to the sleeve I4 for automatically clutching and releasing in the feeding action eifective to progress the tool into the duct or sewer pipe. As the grip 36 is swung to the right during the rotation of the transmission I 5, this tends to unwind such transmission. The clog or relative reduction of axial progress or speed reduction permits the speed decrease against rearduous work as through a tortuous way and may be speeded up very considerably thereover by the step pulley or change speed into the transmission. 'I'his speed action may be up toapproximately 100 R. P. M.

Should there be in the operation not sumcient resistance to eiect automatic release of the sleeve from the feeding action due to the operation of the hand lever 30, 3B, positive control to this end may be eifective. For such purpose, fulcrum 31 on the frame I carries lever 38 having pivot pin 39 connected to clutch collar 40 shiftable into adjustable complementary clutch member 4| to rock levers 42 on collar 43l and thereby throw jaws 4I through openings 45 in the sleeve I4 for.

direct gripping action thereof on the transmission Il. Accordingly, in operating hand grip 40 of the lever Il the feeding action of the operating lever Il. 2t, may be positive in the forward shifting and the clutch lever be the controlling factor for the release and connection.

.In this general operation the length of the transmission Il may be fully and adequately controlled through this sleeve i4 especially for relatively short distances of clearing of ducts or way. When there is desired a reserve or to cover a greater range of activity say up to 100 to 150 feet. the sleeve i4 as beyond the bearing 25 may carry hub flange 41 spaced, from the bearing 25 by compression helical spring $8, thereby acting as a buner, in taking up or lengthening, from reciprocation of the lever 30, 36. This hub flange 41 is herein shown as carrying drum 48 having conical way il upon the tapering outward surface of which in drum 4! this transmission I! may project outward and, due to its wire helix Ii, tends to wind from the outside in of this drum 4l, and as so wound therewith may have terminal anchor Il. In this assembly for this extended magazine supply the feed lever 20, 3B, may pull oi! this drum 49 which additionally serves as a ily wheel in the power drive hereunder. As the feed operation is completed, wing nuts 52 may release the cone 50 so that the coil may be re-fed into the magazine of this drum 49. In instances where there is but a relatively short feed or it may not be desired to operate the drum, notwithstanding the drum be attached. there may be with the transmission i5 as in the drum out of the sleeve I4, a desired length of such transmission inserted through drum opening 52 as cleared by removing plate of the cone 50, thereby permitting such transmission I5 to be fed directly into the sleeve I4.

In practice with a fully clogged or impeded sewer, it is in order initially to develop passageway through. say of somewhat less diameter than the pipe interior. To this end, the terminal tool il, Il (Fig. 5). may be worked through, thereby tending to leave some of the clogging material within the duct or sewer. If it be desired more fully to cleanse the way afterthe flushing, this may be eifected by the tool 2|, 22, 22, 24 (Fig. 8). The arms 22 may be of some resilence and in some instances may normally even extend at the slow speed of rotation close to the duct vinterior wall. Due to the yieldable character of the blades or arms 23 as a more positive resistance is encountered, the slotted portions of the arms away from the terminus 22 allow for radial inward give to clear such positive impediment.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent:

1. Duct interior cleaning means embodying a terminal tool, a ilexible torsion transmitting snake for the tool, a sleeve through which the snake extends, a fixed frame mounting the sleeve, a power drive for rotating the sleeve, manually operable lever operating directly on said sleeve from said frame Ior reciprocating the sleeve relatively to the frame in controlling feed of the snake therefrom and means to releasably connect the snake to the sleeve, said latter means as released leaving the sleeve to rotate independntly of the snake and as connected rendering the lever effective in one direction of lever operation to feed the snake and in the other direction of lever operation to retract the snake, whether or not the sleeve be rotated from the power drive.

2. Duct interior cleaning means embodying a fixed frame, a motor in the frame, a speed reduction drive from the motor, inner and outer sleeve means carried by the trame and rotatable by the drive, flexible torsion transmission means through the inner sleeve and mounted for movement therewith, a terminal tool mounted on the protruding terminus of said torsion means, a rockable' lever operating directly on said inner sleeve from said frame for sliding same relatively to the outer sleeve means and thereby urging the torsion means to progress, and means to grip the torsion means to the inner sleeve.

ROBERT F. THERRIEN. 

